Convert WMA to M4A

WMA files work fine on Windows, but play back poorly on Apple devices and many mobile players. M4A is the standard audio container for iTunes, iPhone, iPad, and most modern streaming apps. If you have a WMA library and want it to work everywhere, converting to M4A is the direct fix.

Total Audio Converter handles WMA to M4A conversion in batch — pick a folder, set the output format, click Convert. No limit on file count, no quality loss beyond what AAC encoding normally involves.

Key Features

• Batch processing. Convert hundreds of WMA files in one run. The converter processes them sequentially without manual intervention.
• Adjustable bitrate and sample rate. Set AAC bitrate (64–320 kbps) and sample rate per conversion profile. Useful when targeting specific device requirements.
• Tag preservation. Artist, album, track number, and cover art carry over from WMA to M4A.
• Command-line interface. Automate recurring conversions with a single command or a .bat script.
• Built-in audio player. Preview source files before converting to verify you have the right track.
• No internet required. Conversion runs locally. Your audio files never leave your machine.

WMA vs M4A: What Is the Difference?

WMA (Windows Media Audio) is Microsoft's proprietary audio format, introduced in 1999. It uses its own codec and is natively supported by Windows Media Player and Xbox. Outside the Microsoft ecosystem — iOS, macOS, Android apps, most streaming services — WMA support is inconsistent or absent. WMA files also carry DRM (Digital Rights Management) in some cases, which prevents playback on unauthorized devices.

M4A (MPEG-4 Audio) is an audio-only container using the AAC codec. Apple developed it as the standard format for iTunes purchases and device storage. It plays natively on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and is supported by Android, VLC, Windows 10/11 (via Media Player), and most car infotainment systems. M4A has no DRM by default and is widely accepted by podcast platforms and music services.

How to Convert WMA to M4A

1. Download and install Total Audio Converter. The 30-day trial is fully functional — no email or credit card required.
2. Open the program. The left panel shows your folder tree. Navigate to the folder containing your WMA files.
3. Check the boxes next to the files you want to convert. Use Ctrl+A to select all files in a folder.
4. Click M4A in the format toolbar at the top.
5. In the conversion settings dialog, set the AAC bitrate and destination folder. Click Start.
6. The converter processes each file and saves M4A files to the output folder. A progress bar shows status per file.

Command-Line Conversion

Total Audio Converter includes a command-line version for server use and automation. Example command:

TotalAudioConverter.exe C:\Music\WMA\ C:\Music\M4A\ -c M4A -b 192

This converts all WMA files in the source folder to M4A at 192 kbps. You can wrap this in a .bat script and run it on a schedule with Windows Task Scheduler — useful for automated ingestion pipelines or media server libraries that require M4A input.

Why Use Total Audio Converter?

Handles large libraries without manual work

If you have hundreds or thousands of WMA files — ripped CDs, archived recordings, purchased downloads — converting them one by one is not practical. Total Audio Converter processes entire folder trees in a single operation. Subfolders are included if you enable recursive mode.

Tags survive the conversion

WMA stores metadata in its own tag format. When converting to M4A, Total Audio Converter reads those tags and writes them into the M4A container as iTunes-compatible metadata. Track title, artist, album, year, track number, and embedded cover art all carry over. You do not need to re-tag files after conversion.

You control the output quality

The converter does not apply a fixed bitrate. You choose: 128 kbps for compact files, 256 kbps for near-lossless quality, or anything in between. Sample rate is also configurable. This lets you match the output to the capabilities of your target device or the requirements of a distribution platform.

Works without an internet connection

All processing is local. Your audio files are never uploaded to a server. This matters when working with private recordings, unreleased tracks, or any content you do not want to transmit over a network.

Right-click integration in Windows Explorer

After installation, Total Audio Converter adds a context menu entry in Windows Explorer. Right-click any WMA file, choose Convert, and pick M4A — the conversion starts without opening the main application window.

Online Converters vs Desktop Converter

When Do You Need WMA to M4A Conversion?

• Moving to Apple devices. You bought or ripped music years ago in WMA. Now you use an iPhone or MacBook. iTunes and the Music app on macOS do not recognize WMA — you need M4A to add the files to your library.
• Uploading to a podcast platform. Most podcast hosts (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.) require MP3 or M4A. If your recordings are in WMA, you cannot upload them directly.
• Preparing audio for a media server. Plex, Jellyfin, and similar servers stream M4A natively to all connected devices. WMA requires transcoding on the fly, which increases server load. Pre-converting saves CPU resources.
• Archiving DRM-free audio. Some WMA files carry Microsoft DRM that restricts playback to specific machines. Converting the audio (where technically permitted) to M4A produces a portable, DRM-free file that plays on any device.
• Standardizing a mixed-format library. If your audio folder contains a mix of WMA, MP3, FLAC, and OGG files, batch-converting everything to M4A creates a consistent library that any player handles uniformly.

Total Audio Converter Customer Reviews 2026

"I had three years of interview recordings in WMA that our podcast host refused to accept. Total Audio Converter batch-converted all 200+ files to M4A overnight. Tags came through cleanly and the audio quality was exactly what I expected from AAC at 192 kbps. No more format issues with uploads."

Karen Whitfield Podcast Producer

"We migrated a shared audio archive from a Windows-only environment to a cross-platform setup. WMA was not usable on the Mac and Linux workstations. The command-line version of Total Audio Converter let us script the whole migration — folder by folder, preserving the directory structure. Saved us days of manual work."

Thomas Brandt IT Administrator

"Switched from a Windows laptop to a MacBook and found that half my music library was WMA. iTunes would not touch those files. Total Audio Converter converted everything to M4A in about 20 minutes — around 600 tracks. Album art and track numbers all came through. Would give 5 stars if the UI were a bit more modern."

Lisa Nakamura Music Enthusiast

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